Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 96 - 18 The Living Legend

Chapter 96: Chapter 18 The Living Legend

Kaga Keido initially thought that the phrase ’gentlemen’ did not include him. He put away his notebook, ready to take his leave, but was stopped by the woman in a kimono, who gestured for him to join as well.

He frowned and explained, "I’ve already disturbed you earlier..."

"Please, Officer Kaga, do us the honor," the woman in the kimono said gently.

Kaga Keido’s face was peculiar. He opened his mouth to speak but said nothing. After four or five seconds, he nodded in agreement.

Fushimi Roku naturally glanced at the top of his head and then quickly looked away. Thanks to Minamoto Tamako, he had now learned how to hide his gaze.

The two subordinates pulled open the metal door, and the kimono woman led the way with the three following closely behind.

They walked through a corridor, at the end of which was a separate elevator.

The four entered one by one. The kimono woman made a gesture to the camera, and the elevator shuddered as it slowly descended.

Due to the outsiders present, none of the three spoke. Kaga Keido leaned in the corner of the elevator, nervously shaking his leg, and Kazama Tatsuya couldn’t help but glance at him.

Dozens of seconds later, the elevator stopped at the third basement level.

The door opened to a more constricted corridor. To be precise, it should be called a passageway, with exposed cement brick walls, wires and light bulbs hanging on the walls. The air was particularly cold and damp, causing their footsteps to echo.

The kimono woman took down a hanging lamp from the wall and led the three through the intricate passageways, turning numerous corners along the way. The further they went, the more refined the decor became, clearly indicating an unfinished underground base.

Fushimi Roku had a bad feeling. He initially thought tonight would involve nothing more than chatting with yakuza executives, at most exchanging some harsh words. If the other party agreed to release Watanabe Shun, all would be well; if not, then retribution would come later... But judging by the current situation, it seemed to be a banquet with sinister intentions.

Was it really necessary? Did Watanabe Shun violate some major rule?

Kazama Tatsuya was also unsettled. As the patrol police responsible for managing this district, he had of course seen Sazaki Gen before. Their last meeting was in an office in an apartment building, not in some secret underground chamber... Even if he was not familiar with construction laws, it was obvious that this place was illegally constructed.

The three carried their heavy hearts and remained silent all the way.

Several minutes later, the kimono woman stopped in front of a sliding door. The corridor was paved with wooden floors, and white lanterns hung from the ceiling, exuding a strong sense of Japanese residence style. She knelt like a submissive servant and softly announced, "Family Head, the guests have arrived."

A hoarse voice came from behind the door: "Come in."

The kimono woman stood and slid open the door, leading the three inside. The interior was dimly lit, devoid of electric lights, and the only source of illumination was a candle holder in the corner. Four or five people sat on the floor, each with a small table in front of them. At the head sat a sharp-eyed elderly man.

"Add seats," the old man instructed.

The kimono woman took small steps to fetch three cushions and placed them at the back of the room, gesturing for the three to sit.

Kazama Tatsuya glanced over and noticed Sazaki Gen. The latter sat in a forward position on the right, close to a young man, suggesting that these two were not of low status within the Inakawa Association. He counted, noting five people seated, with shadowy figures in the corner, clearly not looking like they were there to discuss the kidnapping.

Meanwhile, Fushimi Roku calculated in his mind. His only weapon was the nail clipper on his keychain. The five people seated were all within his kill range. If they were going to die, they would die together. Killing one would be worth it; killing two would be a profitable gain. He felt there was nothing to panic about, so he sat down first.

Once all three were seated, the old man cleared his throat, causing the four seated below him to straighten their backs promptly. He then introduced himself: "Pleased to meet you, I am Inakawa Sejo."

Fushimi Roku had never heard of this name, but he could guess from Kazama Tatsuya’s expression that this old man was likely the head of the Inakawa Association. He actually guessed half correctly; Inakawa Sejo was the founder of the Inakawa Association, now in a semi-retired state, with most affairs handled by his successor.

Though the falcon had aged, its remaining power lingered. Inakawa Sejo wore a kimono; his complexion was rosy, showing no signs of an elder’s decline. After exchanging polite words, he directly explained why he was meeting the three.

Firstly, it was to clear the suspicion surrounding the Sugamo Apartment massacre. The impact of this case on social order was too severe, and Inakawa Sejo did not want the Police Department to treat the Inakawa Association like a terrorist organization. He promised to cooperate unconditionally with the police investigation to uncover the truth and arrest the true culprit as soon as possible;

Secondly, the Inakawa Association was undergoing internal restructuring, strengthening its internal management and hierarchical structure. He believed this was good news for the Police Department. The reformed Inakawa Association would be more disciplined than before, so he hoped Kaga Keido would not cause trouble at this critical juncture;

In return, Inakawa Sejo would provide the detailed information on Nagashima Takeshi, including the entire transportation route he had previously overseen, all packaged for the investigation division.

Additionally, he earnestly apologized to Kazama Tatsuya, admitting that his subordinates mishandled the situation, leading to the wrongful capture of his subordinate. Currently, Watanabe Shun was safe and sound, though suffering some ’mental trauma,’ and he was willing to compensate for medical expenses and psychological damages.

Sazaki Gen, who was responsible for the mishap, also apologized. He did not perform a kowtow but publicly severed his pinky with a small knife as an apology.

The kimono woman respectfully wrapped the severed finger and placed it in a wooden box before presenting it to the three to show sincerity.

The elderly man before them was already a legend across generations. Since founding the Inakawa Group in 1949, he had weathered forty-one years of storms, expanding his influence to one metropolis, one circuit, and sixteen prefectures, earning even congressmen’s bows and deference when meeting him—now they can reason together simply because he conducts himself with propriety.

Having reached this point in the conversation, Kaga Keido really had no reason to refuse.

He gave an almost imperceptible nod, consenting to the transaction.

Inakawa Sejo smiled with satisfaction, and without a prompt, the kimono woman brought a bottle of sake, filling the cups of everyone present. He personally came down from his seat, toasted with each one, and drank it all to show respect, treating even someone like Fushimi Roku, just a patrolman at the police box, the same way.

"Gentlemen officers, I have family matters to discuss."

Kaga Keido understood the hint and took the initiative to say goodbye. Inakawa Sejo exchanged a few polite words, saying there was no need to see them off.

The three stood up one after another, ready to leave, but then saw Inakawa Sejo’s expression change dramatically, his eyes suddenly growing grim.

The relief Kazama Tatsuya felt evaporated again, and he held his breath, intently watching, waiting for Inakawa Sejo to speak.

Under everyone’s gaze, Inakawa Sejo’s chest heaved violently, his features twisted, mouth agape yet voiceless, slowly lowering his head and slumping into silence.

It wasn’t until a minute later that someone realized something was wrong. The young man next to Sazaki Gen stepped forward, reaching to assist Inakawa Sejo’s arm, quietly asking, "Father, what’s wrong?"

With a thud, Inakawa Sejo collapsed to the floor.

The crowd rushed over in a panic. Sazaki Gen turned Inakawa Sejo’s body over, felt for a pulse, and listened silently to the old man’s chest for a moment, his complexion gradually turning pale.

"Dead... dead."

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